The Sunday Mail
Nyore Madzianike
AT LEAST 600 people have appeared before the courts for allegedly dealing in or possessing dangerous drugs, with prosecutors securing more than 300 convictions during the first four months of the year.
Only 10 people were cleared over the same period.
Overall, of all the people who appeared before the courts, 315 — more than half — were charged with dealing in or possessing the highly addictive narcotic crystal methamphetamine, also known as mutoriro.
Most of them appeared in Harare courts.
Data obtained from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) shows that 315 people were convicted on drug charges and given various forms of punishment.
In Harare Province, 164 people were charged with drug-related offences involving mutoriro and 27 were convicted, while two others were cleared.
The rest of the cases are pending.
Mashonaland Central Province came second with 103 people being arraigned.
Twenty-three of them were charged with possession of or dealing in crystal methamphetamine.
Prosecutors in the province secured 64 convictions, while four people were acquitted.
In total, 35 cases are pending in the province.
In Bulawayo Province, 41 people were convicted of dealing in dangerous drugs out of the 69 individuals who were brought before the courts.
Only three cases remain at various stages.
Ten out of the 69 matters in Bulawayo involved mutoriro.
Statistics show that 68 cases involving crystal meth were heard in Manicaland courts, with 29 ending in convictions.
However, 39 other cases are at various stages.
Mashonaland East and Midlands provinces each recorded 43 matters, with 37 and 36 ending in convictions, respectively.
Interestingly, there were no cases involving mutoriro in Mashonaland East courts this year.
In Masvingo, 34 people were convicted, while six cases are outstanding.
There was only one case involving crystal meth in the province since January.
But the NPA prosecuted 28 cases involving mutoriro in Mashonaland West Province, resulting in seven people being found guilty.
Prosecutors also secured convictions of all 27 drug-related cases brought before the courts in Matabeleland North province, one of which involved mutoriro.
Matabeleland South Province had the lowest number of offences relating to drugs, at 20, all of which involved crystal meth.
Fifteen of the cases ended in convictions, while four accused persons were cleared of all charges.
Only one case is pending in the courts.
Asked why the rate of processing cases remains low in provinces like Harare and Manicaland, acting Prosecutor-General
Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa said he needed time to consult with the various courts to find out what could be happening.
Government recently unveiled a $500 million drug mitigation fund meant to aid in the fight against drug abuse.
Commenting on the fund at the recently held Youth Development Conference in Bulawayo, President Mnangagwa said: “It is my expectation that the $500 million provided by my Government under the drug and substance abuse mitigation fund will accelerate high-impact activities and result in this fight to end drug abuse. These activities should reach every corner of Zimbabwe; no one or no place should be left behind.
“The need to mitigate the harm associated with substance abuse, as well as negative health and psycho-social facts through the provision of holistic treatment services for affected individuals and families, remains critical.”
